Air travel - No progress!

[Chocaholic]

30 years ago I could fly from Atlanta to LA in 4.5 hours. Earlier this week I flew from Atlanta to LA in.......4.5 hours.

30 years of technology and not a minute gained. Thoughts?

[onewhippedpuppy]

Speed isn't the new frontier for airliners, it's fuel efficiency. They really reached the practical top speed of a big metal tube several decades ago, as you start approaching supersonic speeds the math gets much harder.

[Porsche-O-Phile]

Limited by the Mach 1 speed limit mostly.

I know aircraft manufacturers are working on the problem by trying to get sonic booms (pressure waves) to disperse only upwards - not downward where they'll be an annoyance to people (or if operating over "flyover" states, cows I suppose...)

[dad911]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

30 years ago I could fly from Atlanta to LA in 4.5 hours. Earlier this week I flew from Atlanta to LA in.......4.5 hours.

30 years of technology and not a minute gained. Thoughts?

How much $$$ was your flight in 80's vs today?

[widgeon13]

It seems the technology has been directed at fuel efficiency and not at moving people faster plus many of the planes transporting people today are actually old aircraft. Of course when you factor in security the entire process has become much less efficient. I flew from LV to Albany last night and the process was just painful and degrading from what I remember 30 years ago.

Passengers have gone from being reasonably well dressed to dressing like they are "off to bed". They could care less of comfort, all they want is cheap. Air travel has become bus travel.

[gshase]

I remember back in high school studying planes of the future. The SST and Concord were highly praised back then.Try to book a flight on one of them or sit back and enjoy your flight an a B-737 the plane that was listed as being replaced by the Concord back in 1968.

[recycled sixtie]

Think of your glass as half full rather than half empty. Try driving it and that 4.5 hrs by comparison will seem like minutes....
Guy

[wdfifteen]

I have a friend who flies a lot, always wore a suit and tie. After the new security restrictions kicked in a decade or so ago he started traveling in sweatpants and flip flops. Carries his wallet, etc in his computer bag. He gets through security without undressing and is more comfy on the plane. When we talked about it he said, "The airports and airlines treat you like cattle no matter how you dress. What's the point of looking civilized?"

[5String43]

Were you more comfortable 30 years ago than you are now? Were the seats better 30 years ago than they are now? Was there more legroom 30 years ago than there is now?

Saw a report last week that said the two most hated industries in the country are cable TV and airlines. I wonder why....

[dhrcr911s]

i still dress "nicely". My first job was management at a huge transportation company. We were required to fly in Suit and Tie for work, even on shuttle flights. I still think if I don't look like a scumbag I get somebetter service.

Gramps did 1,000,000 miles on United DC-3's and wore a suit when flying until the day he died.

As for speed, my daughters just flew to Denver from Montana, the flight hit 655 mph ground speed with a huge tailwind. I guess my excess bagage fees (ski Camp) paid for the additional fuel burn. Next time i fedex the ski bags ahead..

[widgeon13]

I had 2,000,000 miles on AA alone in 30 years, most of it enjoyable at least until 9/11. Always wore suit and tie on domestic flights, for that matter I always wore a suit and tie in the office. Now it's whatever floats your boat. So glad to be retired and not have to deal with this today.

Nowadays what separates business traveler from leisure are pj"s or slacks and button-down shirt. Don't get me going on the flight attendants!

[Head416]

What's the point of dressing up for a flight? Especially if I'm going to be sitting in that uncomfortable chair for 8-16 hours on an international flight. I need every comfort advantage I can get.

[widgeon13]

It was a different time period, business people wore suits. I would fly out on 7 AM flight from LGA to wherever and call on customers once I landed. Probably see 3 customers and then a dinner that evening, same thing over the next day or so and then back home on a Thursday of Friday.

Hell, in LA they haven't dressed up for years. Not being critical, it's just the way it was back then.

[flipper35]

You may have flown on the same plane 30 years ago. OK, not really, but the same type with some improvements.

[widgeon13]

Yeah, they put more seats in and now only carry pretzels!😝

[biosurfer1]

Suit and ties are fast on their way out if not already. I still think there is a time/place for them but every day office work is not one of them. A lot of the "old timers" complain about the IT guys at my company who dress, um "interesting" but the fact of the matter is they really run the company and at the end of the day, if you get your work done, on time and under budget, who gives a crap what you're wearing?

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by widgeon13

Yeah, they put more seats in and now only carry pretzels!😝

I didn't mean improvements for the passengers. For the company. Better engines, avionics, more seats, less food, credit card processing, winglets, less free baggage.

[vash]

i dress regular, but i make sure i am clean. i've ridden next to Mr BodyOdor many times, and i will never be that guy. there is no escape.

i'm stupid tho..i typically wear my boots. if i am going on a hun..(ahem) "camping" trip..i wear my hunt..no..camping boots. they are really huge, and packing them is not easy..plus they are coated in camp juices. just kidding.

they are impossible to pack, take up too much space...so i just lace them up and go..i dont know why, but i find comfort in boots. if the plane goes down in a hard landing..i can get out, stomping over everyone wearing flipflops and strappy sandals.

not fun lacing and unlacing boot in the security line..at all.

[Porchdog]

Before deregulation there were also a lot more direct flights.

[Neilk]

If you have Pre-check security clearance, going through security is as easy as the pre 9/11 days. If you can afford first or business class, I would say the seats and IFE are way better. The food might not be though, no caviar or real Champagne.